An item for pride

This Fall each of the tax paying adults in The Dalles will have a chance to bring something to our town that we can be proud of.

Yes, we have a fine fire station, yes, we have a fine community college and yes, we have a fine middle school. Those are all very functional and important items that a proud community provides for it’s citizens through bond measures. Thank you, The Dalles!

Let’s now, take time to look into the mind’s eye of any youth 18 and younger and could we start to accept the idea that these younger folks of our town need to be provided for too? Look at the skate park, it’s always entertaining kids. Kids have not looked for functionality in our bond measures, they want a community center/fan meeting place. When they grow up, they will be leaving the child’s mindset with what to remember? Only a skate park?....ah…disc golf course, anything else…did I overlook any other youthful community activities of this nature….Seems like a pretty short list of “Things to do.”

Our kids will be working for a living soon enough, can’t we as a adults provide a long-lasting outlet to our kids, while they are kids, that would be the pride of our town (from the youths/adults perspective).

“Yeah, I’ll meet you at the Dalles Water Park for an afternoon swim and picnic!” One potential Goldendale family may say to another.

Our kids sure need this chance. We need to continue developing our town’s offering to its people and beyond.

Please consider voting for the water park in 2013, and we will still have it 40 years from now!

How much more would our water park cost now, compared to when the town voted it down last time? I’m saying, build a nice facility and don’t be tight on the corners. It’s time to look at adding a development like a swim park to our town. Let’s get behind the water park and make it the only project on the ballot. We have a big shopping center coming with all the trimmings, just think of a full day in town with a water park too?

Remember when we, as a community, came together in 1996 and built Tree Top Play Park? That was community involvement at its best!